Sins not leading to death and the one sin that leads to death.

1 John 5:16-18

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A sin leading to death and a sin not leading to death. “If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.” 1 John 5:16-18

The Apostle John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, teaches that if we observe a fellow Christian committing a sin, we should pray, and God will grant life to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. If any of us claim to be without sin, we are only deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1John 1:8 A sin that does not lead to death is one that does not involve blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the sin that leads to death, and it is not something we should pray about. This sin leads individuals towards atheism, away from belief in the living God, and rejecting Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit keeps a person receptive to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, enabling reconciliation with God. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit hardens an individual’s mind, spirit, and soul against being born-again in the Spirit. At some point in our lives, we may have all spoken against Jesus Christ, yet it was the Holy Spirit that guided us into a correct relationship with Him.

“Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” Matthew 12:31-32 

All unrighteousness is sin, and as sinners saved by the grace and mercy of God, we will inevitably stumble into unrighteous words and behaviors and have thoughts and feelings that seem unrighteous. With all of our shortcomings, the only sin leading to death is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. When we are born of God, He sees Jesus Christ in us and considers us righteous, He no longer sees our sin but declares His children free of sin. If God left even one sin unforgiven, we would not be saved, therefore everyone who is born of God is free of sin.

Believing in our hearts that Jesus is resurrected from the dead and confessing Him as Lord leads to forgiveness of sin and the born-again experience. As believers, we grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Like babes learning to walk, we will stumble into unrighteous actions and words, but these are not sins leading to death. They are the shortcomings of our sinful nature, providing experience and wisdom as the Holy Spirit works out His sanctification within us, “…but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18 “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” Romans 6:14-15

The wicked one of this world has no power over our salvation, we are reborn through God’s grace and mercy. Have faith, just believe in Jesus Christ, and you are saved., “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 The atheistic entity with power over physiology will exert influence over feelings and thoughts to make us feel unsaved and cause us to say and do things we regret. Satan is the accuser, and God rebukes him, “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” Zachariah 3:1-2

“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” Romans 6:15

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11